Orange unveils 29 October LTE launch date

According to Chronicle.lu, Orange Luxembourg has confirmed that its under-deployment Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is set to launch on 29 October, with an unlimited monthly data subscription available for an introductory price of EUR39 (USD50.2). Although no LTE-compatible handsets are believed to be in the pipeline, the network will be offered to customers using USB dongles, Mi-Fi personal access points and 4G tablets. At a live feed LTE demonstration Thierry Iafrate, the cellco’s director of marketing and CEO Patrick Ittah confirmed that 4G coverage is currently available to 70% of the Grand Duchy, with theoretical transmission speeds of up to 50Mbs/20Mbps (down/uplink). In 2013 coverage will be extended to 90%, with speeds increased to 150Mbs/75Mbps.

As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, earlier this month Orange’s rival Tango confirmed that its own LTE launch was set for 1 October, giving it a clear advantage over its competitors in the race for 4G domination. In addition, it is believed that Tango will offer LTE-compatible smartphones at launch.

According to the GlobalComms Database, third-placed player Orange was authorised by the Institut Luxembourgeois de Regulation (ILR) to carry out a six-month LTE trial during the second half of 2010, in conjunction with parent company France Telecom-Orange and French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent. Although the trial concluded with a successful demonstration in front of the local press, the operator revealed that the deployment of LTE in the 2.5GHz frequency band was likely to present a serious risk of interference to neighbouring countries, effectively sending the ILR back to the drawing board.